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Development of hybrid antimicrobial nanomaterials

Author

Rashidah Zulkifli

Date of Issue

2015

School

School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Abstract

The development of new antimicrobial materials represents a new frontline in biomedical research. However, the emergence of “superbugs” pose a challenge to antimicrobial nanomaterials research. “Superbugs” are bacteria that have developed resistance to traditional antibiotics. Recent advances in nanotechnology offer new possibilities of integrating different types of nanoscale building blocks into new generations of antimicrobial materials. In this paper, a combination of antimicrobial nanomaterials that consists of polymer and graphene oxide was synthesized and its effectiveness in causing death of microbes by cytoplasmic membrane disruption of bacteria was explored. Cytoplasmic membrane disruption is caused by charge interactions between positively charged polymer of the material and the negatively charged membrane surface of the bacteria. Eventually, the cell membrane disruption will cause damage to the membrane, affecting normal cell functions. The results of tests conducted on treated S. aureus showed that the antimicrobial nanomaterial synthesized was effective in causing cell membrane disruption. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that the antimicrobial nanomaterials had attached on and caused damage to cell membrane surface. Results from fluorescence imaging microscopy showed that samples treated with the antimicrobial nanomaterial had their cell membranes damaged. Cultured antibacterial test showed that cell growth of treated S. aureus was inhibited.